City venue to host ‘Tinder night’ for singles on Valentine’s Day!

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February 10, 2022

Galway Daily news Tenders issued for Loughrea Town Hall project

Galway East TD Seán Canney has said that he is disappointed with the content of the Town Centre First Policy.

He said that there is nothing new in the policy, and that there is no incentive within the policy to support first time buyers to buy vacant properties and turn them into living spaces.

“Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme are all in place for the last number of years,” the Independent TD said.

“The Crói Conaithe (Town) Fund is not yet in place and will not be in place until later this year.”

Deputy Canney said that the lack of Wastewater Treatment Plants in towns and villages is a glaring obstacle in the regeneration of our towns and villages.

“Typically, in Galway East, Craughwell, Corofin, Lackagh and Abbeyknockmoy are examples of growth centres that are left to stagnate due to the absence of Wastewater Treatment facilities.

“The concept of the Town Centre First Policy is good, but the lack of immediate new funding is very disappointing and offers nothing to young people to make their homes in town centres.”

Family syndicate claims life-changing €19m Lotto jackpot

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February 9, 2022

Galway Daily news Family syndicate claims life-changing €19m Lotto jackpot — Laura Scrinney, owner of the XL Store in Castlebar in Co. Mayo celebrates after she sold the winning ticket for the largest ever Lotto jackpot prize of €19,060,800 last January. Photo Credit: Mac Innes Photography

A large family syndicate in Mayo has come forward to claim the largest ever Lotto jackpot in the history of the state.

The record-breaking €19.06 million jackpot was won on Saturday, January 15, after rolling over for months.

The ecstatic family syndicate, who wish to remain anonymous, won their life changing prize with a Quick Pick ticket they bought at Laura’s XL store in Castlebar town.

Discussing the exact moment that they realised they had the all-important winning ticket, a spokesperson from the syndicate said that Saturday night is still a blur.

“Even though we’re finally collecting a cheque for over €19 million, we’re still waiting for somebody to tell us that we made a mistake and we’re not the winners at all!”

“There was a lot of excitement about the draw that night, so we watched it on the television at home.”

“I had the ticket in my hand and to see the six numbers come out one after another was like an out of body experience – it’s impossible to explain.”

“We didn’t get carried away one bit because we thought that there was no way we could have won it.”

“We got the phones out and frantically started scanning it on the National Lottery App.”

“After about 20 minutes, the ticket scanned, and a message popped up that will live with us all for the rest of our lives. It said, ‘You’ve won big!’ It was such an incredible moment.”

Over the course of the Lotto jackpot roll sequence which saw the jackpot capped for the first time ever, an incredible €87 million was won in prizes in the main Lotto game.

This included almost €24 million in excess jackpot prize funds which were distributed to lower winning prize tiers.

The National Lottery have also confirmed that the jackpot roll sequence alone raised in excess of €60 million for local Good Causes in communities across Ireland.

After claiming their prize at Lotto HQ in Dublin city centre, the large family excitedly discussed how they have come to terms with being Ireland’s largest Lotto jackpot winners ever and how they plan to make the very most of their new found fortune by helping their close friends and the wider community.

COVID-19: 5,677 PCR & 5,578 Antigen test cases reported

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February 9, 2022

Galway Daily news 25 percent drop in COVID cases in Galway hospitals

There have been a further 11,255 cases of COVID-19 in total reported by the department of health today.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has notified an additional 5,677 PCR-confirmed cases of the disease today.

As well as this, a further 5,578 people who registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal have also been reported.

There have been an additional 63 deaths due to COVID-19 notified in Ireland in the past week.

This brings the total death toll from the disease here to 6,291 since the start of the pandemic.

As of this morning there were 627 people in the country hospitalised with COVID, of whom 68 are in the ICU.

The COVID-19 data hub provides detailed information about the disease in the community, including the rollout of the booster campaign.

There have been 121,760 lab tests completed in the past week, 31.9% of which have tested positive for the virus.

A total of 2,741,939 booster vaccine doses have been administered as of yesterday, with 2,673 jabs given on Tuesday.

Take a Wild Atlantic Walk with Croí

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February 9, 2022

Galway Daily news Take a Wild Atlantic Walk with Croí

Croí Galway is inviting people to join them on a journey of wellness for the third year of their Couch to Wild Atlantic Way Virtual Challenge.

This six week fundraising challenge encourages people to embrace a healthier lifestyle, while matching a coastal route along the Atlantic Coast from wherever you are.

Participants can walk, jog, or run their desired coastal route, alone or together with family and friends.

The challenge kicks off on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2022, and participants can choose to take part as an individual or as part of a team.

Once you have chosen your desired route, you can track your progress through an interactive map – tracking your distance and virtually moving down the coast as you complete kilometers each week.

The interactive map also allows for others to track your progress too, with the option to support you via sponsorship.

“The best thing about the Couch to Wild Atlantic Way Virtual Challenge is that you can take part from wherever you are in the world,” said Croí’s Fundraising Director, Christine Flanagan.

“This year, we are excited to share the addition of the Wild Atlantic Wellness Programme where experts from the Croí Health Team will be sharing their knowledge and providing support and advice.”

This support will take the form of a weekly video message to “enhance your experience and to inspire you on your heart health journey” during the challenge.

The various route options available mean that you can select the right challenge for you based on your fitness level.

The individual routes are broken down by county: Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry and Cork.

They range in length from 148 km in distance (the Sligo route) to 604 km (the Donegal route), with the team lengths taking you on a longer journey along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Proceeds from this event will go directly to supporting Croí services, such as their virtual health and support programmes, including Heartlink West, and the Croí Courtyard Apartments.

We hope you will join us on this virtual mission in aid of Croí. Your support is vital and every euro raised will help the important fight against heart disease and stroke,” says Flanagan.

Registration is just €15, and all registrants will receive an eco-friendly Couch to Wild Atlantic Way medal, PLUS participants who raise over €50 will receive a special Croí beanie!

Register now at www.croiwaw.ie and get ready to start your Couch to Wild Atlantic Way Virtual Challenge.

Mortgages half as expensive as rent in Galway City

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February 9, 2022

Galway Daily news Galway City Council has announced plans for a social housing development of 84 apartments and houses in Knocknacarra.

The cost of a mortgage in Galway City is half of what it costs to rent for many properties, with the gap even greater in the county.

In the last Daft Rental Report for Q4 of 2021, the cost of a mortgage for a one-bedroom apartment in the city is €512, compared with €1,026 to rent.

Renting a two bed-house in the city will cost you €1,207 a month, compared with just €625 if you own.

This gap closes for larger homes in the city, €944 mortgage and €1,407 rent for a three-bed house, or €1,888 and €2,113 for a five bed house.

In Galway County the average monthly mortgage payment on a one-bed apartment is €316, compared with €778 to rent the same.

You’ll be paying just €387 a month if you own a two-bed house, or €908 if you’re renting.

At the other end of the scale, a four-bed house in the county has an average mortgage payment of €1,063, and costs €1,151 to rent.

The cost of renting in Galway City went up by 2.2% in the city during the last three months of 2021, and saw a yearly increase of 8.8%.

In the county rents also went up by 2.2% in Q4 of last year. But the real shift came in the year on year change, where rents in the county skyrocketed by 19% in 2021.

The average cost to rent is now €1,504 in Galway City, and €1,138 for homes in the county.

Two people seriously injured in crash involving truck and car

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February 9, 2022

Two people have been seriously injured following a crash involving a car and a truck in the west of Ireland this morning.

The car and truck collided on a stretch of the N5 between Swinford and Charlestown this morning at approximately 12:25am.

Two occupants of the car were seriously injured during the collision.

A male passenger (70s) was taken to Mayo University Hospital where his condition is described as critical.

A female passenger (50s) was transferred to Beaumont Hospital where her condition is described as serious.

The driver of the car is also receiving treatment in Mayo University Hospital for serious, but what are understood to be non-life threatening injuries.

The N5 road is currently closed between Swinford and Charlestown and traffic diversions are in place awaiting Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

Gardaí are appealing to any person who may have witnessed this crash to contact them.

Any person who was travelling on the N5 between Charlestown and Swinford last night between midnight and 1.00am and who may have camera (including dash cam) footage, is asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.

Anyone with any information in relation to this incident is asked to contact Claremorris Garda Station on 094 937 2080, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

Arson attacks “deeply worrying” for local residents Cllr says

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February 9, 2022

Galway daily news Fianna Fáil City Councillor calls for extension of eviction ban

A city councillor said that the recent arson attacks on families living in the Castlepark area of Ballybane are deeply concerning.

Cllr Alan Cheevers said that this “very serious situation” needs to be de-escalated before someone is killed, and that local residents are extremely concerned.

There have two extremely serious arson incidents in Castlepark in the past week, both at houses with people inside.

In the early hours of Thursday, February 3 a house was set ablaze with four people inside, three of them children. Though fortunately no-one was seriously injured.

Three people were arrested in connection with this incident, one of them a juvenile, and later released pending a file being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Following that, on Sunday night shortly before midnight, a car was set ablaze outside a house in Castlepark, and a front window of the home was smashed.

“Luckily nobody was hurt and the families got away with no serious injuries from the first two attacks, but this may not be the case again,” Alan Cheevers warned.

He added that this has proved “deeply worrying” for the residents of Castlepark, saying that many have contacted him over the past few days.

“I have written to Superintendent Flanagan with the support of my council colleagues in Galway City East, requesting a meeting with the local councillors and a briefing to discuss this issue in more detail.”

SOCCER: Moyne Villa weekend results

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Martin Hughes

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February 9, 2022

Galway Daily sport SOCCER: Moyne Villa weekend results

Moyne Villa FC had a strong weekend for their U15 and U16 teams, with impressive results against Colemanstown and Kinvara.

U15 Girls: Moyne Villa vs Colemanstown Utd

After a night of torrential rain and early pitch inspection, the game was given the thumbs up to go ahead.

An early own goal by Colemanstown gave a boost to Moyne Villa, after which Ava Bohan manged to hit a shot through the hands of the keeper.

She scored her second goal of the match about ten minutes later after coolly finishing a through ball at the far post.

Just before the break Emma Curran played a nice pass into the box, allowing Ava Heneghan to put the scorecard to 4-0 at half-time.

In the Second half Eda Hyland showed some great skills with ball in attack and got herself on the score sheet.

Colemanstown rallied and managed to make it 5-1, before Aisha O’Malley put away goals 6 and 7 by full time.

U16 Boys: Moyne Villa v Kinvara United

Villa played with the gale in the first half and this proved crucial. After sustained early pressure, Matthew Cahill released Padraic Heneghan and he coolly finished.

After a foul on the edge of the box, Cian Earnor fired home a fine strike into the top corner.

Straight from the kick off Villa won possession through Muiris Flaherty, and Sandi Tshabalaba played Conor McNally through and he finished at the second time of asking.

Right on the stroke of half time Villa added a fourth when Conor turned home an Eoin Mannion corner.

Just after half time Conor McNally completed his hat trickafter a good through ball. Kinvara struck back with a fine strike of their own from a free kick, putting heavy pressure on Villa.

In the end, Mathew Cahill added a sixth goal for Villa after his hard work.

However, things didn’t go as well for the U15 A team who faced Salthill Devon on Saturday afternoon, losing 3-0 after failing to hit their stride.

GMIT adopts new plan to support biodiversity and conservation

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February 9, 2022

Galway Daily news GMIT adopts new plan to support biodiversity and conservation — Photo Credit: Dr Katie O'Dwyer

Building up a green and verdant campus, and increasing knowledge and teaching of the natural world are key pillars of GMIT’s newly published biodiversity plan.

The recently released “GMIT’s Vision for Biodiversity” has ambitious plans to develop wildflower meadows on its multiple campuses, and to make “living classrooms” from their existing green areas.

On top of improving biodiversity on campus lands, GMIT also states that they intend to embed biodiversity in curriculum design, and encourage proactive participation in community-led biodiversity initiatives.

Approved by GMIT’s Executive Board on January 18, it will be implemented through the newly established GMIT Centre for Sustainability, led by Dr Mark Kelly.

Dr Katie O’Dwyer, who led the interdisciplinary group which prepared the plan, said “It’s three years since the Irish Government acknowledged the severity of the challenges by declaring a ‘biodiversity emergency’ and it’s encouraging to see GMIT stepping up to play our part.”

“Our efforts will also contribute to ongoing projects within the Galway National Park City initiative. Ní neart go cur le chéile.”

The plan aligns with the objectives of the Government’s National Biodiversity Plan 2017 – 2021, through four main objectives.

These include being proactive in biodiversity conservation, considering biodiversity in the planning and management of campus grounds and buildings, increasing knowledge of biodiversity among students and staff, embedding biodiversity related topics in curricula design, and engaging with communities and knowledge sharing across the region.

Substitute consent refused for controversial Derrybrien wind farm

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February 8, 2022

Galway Daily news Plans in the works for northwest Galway wind farm

An Bord Pleanála has refused substitute consent for the controversial Derrybrien wind farm, which is currently being fined €15,000 a day.

The 70 turbine wind farm in the northern Slieve Aughty Mountains suffered a severe landslide in 2003 while under construction.

This destroyed vast areas of forest and peat, and polluted waterways, killing large numbers of fish.

In 2019, the wind farm was found to be in breach of environmental regulations by the EU Court of Justice.

A €5 million fine was imposed by the court for the failure to carry out a proper Environmental Impact Assessment before construction.

Further fines of €15,000 a day were also ordered by the court so long as it was non-compliant, building to a bill of more than €17 million in total.

The ESB, owner of the wind farm, sought substitute consent for the wind farm from An Bord Pleanála.

Substitute consent is a retroactive form of planning permission allowing developers to regularise permission for projects that are deemed to not be compliant with EU law.

In making its decision to refuse this application, An Bord Pleanála said that it was “not satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist that would justify the grant of substitute consent”.

The specific reason for this was the “significant effects on the environment which occurred as a consequence of the 2003 peat slide”.

Remedial works incorporated into the construction after the peat slide “does not fully mitigate the significant environmental effects” which occurred in the event.

The Board said that there are “significant permanent residual effects” that cannot be fully mitigated. The residual environmental impact would preclude granting substitute consent.

COVID-19: 3,780 PCR-confirmed cases reported today

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February 8, 2022

Galway Daily news Galway hospitals see COVID cases double in recent weeks

There have been a further 9,365 cases of COVID-19 in total reported by health officials today.

The Health Protection Surveillance centre has notified an additional 3,780 PCR-confirmed cases today.

In addition, a further 5,585 positive antigen tests registered through the HSE portal have also been reported.

As of this morning there were 646 COVID-19 patients hospitalised in Ireland, of whom 72 are in the ICU.

The COVID-19 data hub provides detailed information about the disease in the community, including the rollout of the booster campaign.

There have been 121,146 lab tests completed in the past week, 32% of which have tested positive for the virus.

A total of 2,737,449 booster vaccine doses have been administered as of yesterday, with 1,438 jabs given on Monday

Contractor chosen for new 50-bed ward block at Portiuncula Hospital

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February 8, 2022

Galway Daily news Contractor chosen for new 50-bed ward block at Portiuncula Hospital

Plans are progressing for the construction of a new 50 bed ward block at Portiuncula Hospital, with a contractor chosen for the project.

Galway TD Seán Canney said that he has received confirmation that preferred contractor for the project has been selected, and that the contract should be signed shortly.

“I understand that a Letter of Intent to sign a contract has been issued to the selected contractor.”

“The contract will be signed shortly, and it is expected that work will begin on site in the coming months”.

When completed the hospital extension will deliver a two-storey, 4,038sqm ward building with 50 beds, and a link corridor to the existing hospital.

Last November the county council granted an extension of planning permission for the project.

In seeking this, the HSE said that it is expected that the addition to Portiuncula Hospital will be completed by mid-2023.

Man faces trial for allegedly sending explicit photo to teenage girl

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February 8, 2022

Galway Daily courts Man charged in connection

A Galway man in his late 30s faces trial for allegedly sending a sexually explicit photo to a teenage girl.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge Mary Fahy at Galway District Court this week.

He was charged last July with sending sexually explicit material to a child under the age of 17 using information and communication technology under Section 8(2) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.

Sgt Cathal Rodgers told the court last November that it will be alleged that in September of 2020 the man sent a message to a then 16 year old girl that age is “only a number” and sent her a photo of his penis.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had indicated on that occasion that the case could only be dealt with at the District Court in the event of a guilty plea.

This week the court heard that the man is pleading not guilty to the charge.

Judge Fahy adjourned the case to March for consent from the DPP for a book of evidence.

Reporting restrictions imposed by the court barring publication of the man’s identity at this time were also reaffirmed.

Galway footballer Kieran Fitzgerald on Thursday’s Laochra Gael

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February 8, 2022

galway daily news kieran fitzgerald galway gaa

The latest season of Laochra Gael has proved hugely popular so far on TG4, and former Galway footballer Kieran Fitzgerald will be the focus of this Thursday’s (10 February) episode.

Laochra Gael, now in its 20th series, features six Laochra with genuine star quality, and it reveals deeper, fresh and sometimes unexpected insights into the lives of these icons.

While their sporting careers continue to provide the backdrop to the story, the series travels well beyond the four white lines.

Kieran Fitzgerald burst onto the scene in 2001, winning the All Ireland and an All Star at just 20 years of age.

A few years later, he was dealt a crushing blow when his girlfriend, Máiréad Meehan, lost her battle with cancer.

Under a cloud of grief following Máiréad’s passing, Kieran’s love for the game declined. He eventually found rejuvenation with his club, Corofin, performing heroics to win an extraordinary three Club All Irelands in a row in his late thirties.

Speaking about the Laochra Gael Series Uachtarán CLG, Larry McCarthy said: “TG4 has made a major contribution to Irish life since it first launched 25 years ago, and from its earliest days, it has carved a niche in the excellence of its GAA coverage and of club games in particular.

“Aside from the matches, the Laochra Gael series has become a staple of the GAA supporter’s TV diet.”

Laochra Gael Series

Programme 1: Terence McNaughton. Available here https://nasc.tg4.tv/LaochraGael-Ramsbottom

Programme 2: Michael Darragh MacAuley. Available here https://nasc.tg4.tv/LaochraGael-MacAuley

Programme 3: Sue Ramsbottom. Available https://nasc.tg4.tv/LaochraGael-Ramsbottom

Programme 4: Joe Quaid, 9.30pm, Thursday 3rd February https://nasc.tg4.tv/LaochraGael-Quaid

Programme 5: Kieran Fitzgerald, 9.30pm, Thursday 10th February

Programme 6: Johnny McGurk, 9.30pm, Thursday 17th February

Urgent action needed as over 600 patients on hospital trolleys nationally

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February 8, 2022

Galway Daily news 67 people on trolleys at UHG

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has called for urgent action today as trolley figures soared to 603, the highest number of patients on trolleys since 4 February 2020.

Seventy people are on trolleys at Galway’s hospitals – 46 at University Hospital Galway and 24 at Portiuncula Hospital.

INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said that the number of patients without a bed in our hospitals today is simply unacceptable and should not be tolerated.

She described the fact that so many patients are on trolleys while COVID is still a feature in hospitals as “inexcusable”.

“Since the first week of January in particular, the INMO has been calling for urgent action to ensure that trolley numbers do not rise to unsustainable levels, yet here we are barely the second week of February with a dangerous amount of patients on trolleys,” said Phil.

University Hospital Limerick has the highest number of people on trolleys (71), follwed by Cork University Hospital (58), University Hospital Galway(46), Letterkenny University Hospital (44), St.Luke’s Kilkenny (44), Sligo University Hospital (43), St. Vincent’s University Hospital (37) and Portiuncula Hospital (24).

“We are calling for the Emergency Department Taskforce to be convened and for emergency measures to be deployed in the areas worst hit,” said Phil.

She said that we cannot allow the health service to revert to form and allow pre-COVID levels of overcrowding to become the norm once again in our hospitals. Patients and nursing staff deserve better.

“If non-emergency services need to be curtailed in order to allow the HSE and hospital groups to get a handle on out of control trolley figures then that must be done.

“It is not acceptable to our members to allow overcrowding become an out of control problem once again.”

Riverdance star to bring new show to Galway

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February 8, 2022

galway daily news breandan de gallai riverdance

Galway audiences are in for a treat next month when former Riverdance star Breandán de Gallaí takes his his new show “Walls Talk” to the Town Hall Theatre on March 15.

Breandán’s role as a principal dancer with Riverdance spanned more than seven years, touring the globe with numerous prestigious performances including dancing for King Hussein of Jordan, the Emperor of Japan and Princess Diana.

Inspired by the phrase ‘if these walls could talk’, “Walls Talk” features de Gallaí’s mesmerising solo dance routines set against songs from the golden era of jazz and blues, performed live on stage by jazz singer Gina Boreham.

Speaking ahead of the tour, de Gallaí is encouraging audiences to come and be inspired.

“We’re hugely excited to be presenting this work in Galway, particularly at a time when Ireland is emerging from Covid-19 restrictions and the power of live performance has been largely absent from our lives for over two years,” he said.

“The show explores the notion of memory recorded in the material world around us. The narrative is told through the movement of the body and audiences will be wowed by Gina’s Live renditions of the jazz and blues classics.

“We hope to inspire audiences and challenge preconceptions of what dance can be”.

Walls Talk is produced by Ériu Dance Company and will be performed at; Dunamaise, Portlaoise (4th March), Everyman, Cork (March 9-10th), An Grianán, Letterkenny (12th March), Town Hall Theatre, Galway (15th March), Glór, Ennis (16th March), Siamsa Tíre, Tralee (March 18th), Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick (March 19th), Pavilion Theatre, Dublin (March 23rd) and Backstage Theatre, Longford (March 25th). Tickets start at €15.

Senator “concerned and disappointed” at Ring Road judicial review

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February 8, 2022

Galway Daily news Galway Senator condemns "rotten, corrupt" saga at Inland Fisheries Ireland

A local Senator has said he is deeply concerned after ‘Friends of the Irish Environment’ decided to seek a judicial review of the decision to grant planning permission for the Galway City Ring Road.

Senator Seán Kyne said that the group is certainly not friends of the people of Galway city who are stuck in traffic on a daily basis.

“They are not friends of the people who have to suffer delays in getting to hospital appointments, work, college and school,” he said.

“They are, ironically, not friends of the plan to improve public transport in Galway which needs extra capacity on the roads and river crossings across the city which the GCRR would give.

“And finally, they are not friends of the people of Connemara who find it more and more difficult to get to and from destinations beyond Galway City.”

Senator Kyne said that the decision to appeal this permission will put the future of the City in ‘extended limbo’ while we wait for a decision.

“While I accept the group’s right to appeal, it goes against the wishes of the vast majority of the city and county who recognise that if we are to grow and develop the regional capital for the West, the GCRR is a fundamental building block in that plan, and, in the Galway Transport Strategy, drawn up by both Galway Local Authorities and the National Transport Authority,” added the Fine Gael Senator.

COVID-19: 3,975 PCR-confirmed cases reported

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February 7, 2022

There have been a further 8,453 total cases of COVID-19 reported by health officials today.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has notified an additional 3,975 PCR-confirmed cases today.

In addition, a further 4,478 positive antigen tests registered through the HSE portal have been reported.

As of this morning there are 643 people in Ireland hospitalised with COVID-19, of whom 86 are in the ICU.

Over the weekend there were 6,260 PCR-confirmed and 4,717 Antigen test cases reported on Saturday.

Sunday saw 4,933 PCR-confirmed cases and 3,803 positive Antigen tests reported.

The COVID-19 data hub provides detailed information about the disease in the community, including the rollout of the booster campaign.

Galway public urged to have their say on protecting water quality

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February 7, 2022